Xipe rises early to collect dew from the grass and other plants.
She eats some of the meat from the antelope and pheasant, smoked pleasantly. She begins fashioning the pheasant feathers into fletching for future arrows. She keeps a constant vigil for appropriate shaft materials.
Having passed a second night with the group without being murdered by any of them, she let her guard down a little, but was still quite reticent with her words.
Xipe rises early to collect dew from the grass and other plants.
She eats some of the meat from the antelope and pheasant, smoked pleasantly. She begins fashioning the pheasant feathers into fletching for future arrows. She keeps a constant vigil for appropriate shaft materials.
Having passed a second night with the group without being murdered by any of them, she let her guard down a little, but was still quite reticent with her words.
Thoros can create as much water as people can drink.
Xipe stretches in the morning sun and then dresses, gathering her gear and obscuring her camp 'nest'. Waiting for the others as necessary, she will continue the journey. As always she travels cautiously, frequently watching for signs of danger, or for food. Her bow is strung and an arrow close at hand.
Even wakes to the sound of his fellow guinea pigs moving around and getting ready for the day.
"Well. That's 3 days down, plenty of food, and there are tree's ahead!"
In response to the question about the undead, as he straps on his armor again. "I imagine that the wizard's responsible. I'm not sure where else it would come from, really..."
During the days march Even keeps his eye's pealed for the inevitable trouble, and based on group tactics worked out over several days, he plans on advancing right into the thick of things and engaging defensively when it's appropriate.
True to his word, shortly after waking, Yurian finishes off his crude wolf-pelt cloak, tossing it round his shoulders before leaving the camp site with his peers. A necklace of wolf teeth sits round his neck as well.
He looks again at the direction the zombie approached from, shuddering involuntarily.
After everyone has broken their fast, Even looks to the others, and heads North towards the muchly anticipated Forest, hoping in his heart that what they find there brings them closer to home, but knows logically, that it's bound to make things worse.
Shall we head on then?
During the days march Even keeps his eye's peeled for the inevitable trouble, and based on group tactics worked out over several days, he plans on advancing right into the thick of things and engaging defensively when it's appropriate.
The group presses on towards the treeline. The sun reaches its apex and the guinea pigs are relieved to know what Even saw was not an illusion. Large pines are ever present as far as the eye can see from the east to the west. Birds chirp in harmonious rhythm, the occasional ground squirrel scurried across the forest bed. You can feel the canopy blocking much of the best down the sun has given you for your past 2 days travel.
Finding relief from the sun, however a welcome prospect isn't one without its own inherent dangers. Up in the trees, you spot snakes. Some are harmless, others are quite large, and could easily munch on a small dog if it wanted to. Luckily, the snakes leave your group well enough alone.
About an hour into the forest, the group hears bird fly away from the group. Nothing unusual, but moments after the birds carter you see a trio of hairy, stout animals with opposable thumbs, this creature has a pronounced muzzle and bright red buttocks.
Init tracker: 3 enemies in trees, 30 feet high and 30 feet from group
Even: go
Thoros: go
Vlad: go
Xipe:
Me:
Yurian:
Even moves up 30's and stands directly under one of the creatures that sit on their hands with the intention of taking a defensive swipe if they come to the ground in an attack, or the party engages them and one comes within reach. Ideally, he hopes to stay the closest target, and therefore most tempting.
"Hmm, I'd expect those won't attack, we out number them but...."
Xipe will fire an arrow at the creatures, keeping herself within 30'.
She tries to remember if she has seen these creatures before or knows anything about them.
Vladimir realizing that the group has been attacked by all sorts of creatures moves forward aggressively. Without truly noticing he mimicks Even's stance under a different enemy.
Vlad prepares for an attack from the creatures.
Even stares up at the creatures above and wonders to himself if they would have attacked without being shot at first.
He also hopes that they don't stay up in the trees and attack from afar, as he knows he can barely hit a broad side of a barn despite lots of practice, and having a sling handy.
Init tracker: 2 enemies in Melee with group. Both on Even.
Even: moved under baboons (5 damage) go round 2
Vlad: readied to attack baboons go round 2
Xipe: hit babboon go round 2
Me:
Yurian: go round 1
Thoros: go round 1
These are baboons, territorial little buggers, but for the most part plant eaters. Whether they would have left you alone if not attacked will be a mystery.
The furious furry critters, retaliate against those invading their home. Tgey are slow to react, as a baboon takes an arrow to the hind leg. It limps, but refuses to give in against the intruders. Two baboons launch themselves at Even, the third tries to take a bite out of Vladimir.
The two that launch at Even, seem to evade his blade. Both creatures sink their jaws into his arm and shoulder.
The third baboon, is not so lucky as it leaps towards Vladimir and his sickle is ready as it cuts a deep gash in its belly. It falls to the ground, one angry primate has been dealt with.
Even starts as he is struck hard, and 5' steps out of the flanking that allowed both hits through.
He drops out of his defensive stance, as it appeared to have done little good, and aims at the one that hurt him the most, hoping to cut it down.
AC 16
HP 5/10
Xipe seeing the warrior assaulted by the creatures, fires another arrow at one of them.
Swiftly reloading nocking another arrow, she keeps to the cover of the foliage.
Thoros will charge in with his longspear.
Yurian takes a step back in order make sure he's keeping his distance from the creatures. He then raises his crossbow, and lets loose another shot.
Vlad will stay put and survey the area as the others work on the two known baboons remaining.
Thoros rushes in but digs his spear too into the forest undergrowth. Luckily it doesn't snap. Yurian however shoots a bolt through one of the babboons, piercing the spleen as it falls to the ground with but a final twitch. Even then retaliates with a fierce and angry swing. Completely decapitatibg the poor baboon in front of him.
With combat over, the group can tend to its wounds, and press on if it wishes.
Even looks mournfully at his wounds for a moment.
"Oof, a couple more like that and I'm done for. I don't suppose anyone knows anything of First Aid? I'm afraid my normal duties would simply take me to the Temple to receive aid.
I suppose I'm willing to continue on, and just be even more cautious, we've already learned that if we wait, the Wizard's pets won't, and they'll come to us."
AC 16
HP 5/10
Xipe will recover her broken arrow.
Thoros will use his cure light wounds on Even.
Watching Thoros carefully, Xipe steps outside her characteristically reserved state. "How came you to learn such magic?"
"I was an acolyte of the church of Abadar. Though my magics are quite weak."
"Our tests are many my friends. Today we survive, learn, and prosper. Babboon meat for all!"
Vlad begins to help prepare the babboon for eating.
Xipe keeps her eyes on the look out for sticks or branches to craft arrow shafts with. She also watches for chert or similar types of stone to craft crude arrowheads.
Yurian runs forward and pulls his quarrel from the baboon's carcass where it fell on the ground. He looks at the creature for a long while, genuinely intrigued with the creature. Having lived in the city his entire life, with barely more than the odd foray into the surrounding countryside, he had never seen such an exotic animal.
When he hears Vlad's suggestion, he whips his head around, his tongue out in a gesture of disgust, "Eat it? You mean eat these things? Are they even edible? And keep in mind, this is coming from a guy who's eaten rats for most of his life. These things look like a mix between a man and a zombie! Would it be safe?"
"But look at their teeth! I think these creature's fangs might be even bigger than the wolf's. Can't believe I killed one by myself!" He wrestles off the wolf tooth necklace in order to compare. After a moment, he pulls out his knife to help Vlad with the preparation, but taking the time to collect a little pile of teeth to add to his necklace.
"We should try to keep the pelts in as good of shape as we can... in case the weather shifts, or that wizard changes the seasons, or anything like that..."
It is midday, and Thoros manages to use what little teaching he has has, to patch up Even and the pair of vicious bites.
Vladimir takes out his sickle and begins to break down a baboon, but he butchers it; and not in the good way. Luckily before he can do any more damage, Yurian steps in to help and show Vladimir how to properly break down and successfully skin the exotic animals.
Xipe looks around and she manages to find enough raw materials to make arrows.
Even helps under direction only, otherwise he keeps watch for incoming trouble.
"You are an acolyte of Abadar? Then I thank you twice, Once for the healing, and again as a parishioner of the faith. The small town I was in just a few days ago's main temple is dedicated to Abadar and the spread of civilization in our little corner of wilderness."
"Tanks Yurian, you are bright for a boy. Where did you learn such skills? "
Vlad watches the boy to learn more and packs away what he can as he listens to the others speak of the clergy and skill of Thoros.
"Maybe we can piece together some of dese furs for a bit of armor. Several of us wear very little to protect ourselves."
As the afternoon wends, Even keeps watch and has an idle conversation with one of his fellows, while two others quickly dismantle yet more of that which had tried to kill them. As they finished, and wash some of the blood off with Thoros's miracle water, he looks up at the light through the trees.
"I think we still have a couple hours of light left, if we want to push on, though it we find a really good camp site, we might want to take it. We're not going to want to keep moving much after dusk, we'll loose the light much faster under the treeline. That said, shall we continue?"
Xipe feels much more at home in the forest. "We have food, we should focus on a safe camp. Also, we should look for a place to use for base. Perhaps a cave. We will need to plan our escape and gather materials."
Xipe keeps an eye out for a decent camp site.
The group continues to travel at a northwestern bearing. The forest around them comes alive once again as the babboons are dealt with. Birds chirp, a snake or two rustles the underbrush. Evening approaches as the sun sets on the horizon, but the forest canopy hides most of the sunset. No cave it found by the time camp needs to be made.
Xipe sets up camp easy enough, while Even, Thoros and Vladimir ready for the night as well. A small fire is made, and the same watches are taken: Vladimir first, even second and Xipe last. Thoros needs his beauty sleep.
Vladimir's watch goes by uneventful. A few nocturnal sounds, but nothing of importance. Part way through Even's shift, he hears sounds of rustling through the forest. He is vigilant, but nothing comes. He figures it is the wizard playing tricks on him, or the forest...who knows.
Come morning, everyone is well rested, and everyone feels a bit stronger as well.
Another level in commoner.
+1 hp favored
skills (4)
Climb (new)
Swim (new)
Ride (new)
Perception +1
HP
Thoros choses Owl for his familiar
He increases his heal, spellcraft and survival skills by 1 and puts his last point in Knowledge (nature)
... ouch. That's going to hurt.
+1 Perception, Intimidate, Sense Motive, (New: Swim)
+1 Fort, BAB
I have no idea if I/where I spent FCB for L1. Going to hold off till PC classes if that's ok. Maybe I should change that...
+1 BAB
+1 Will Saves
+6+2 Skill Points
Acrobatics +1
Appraise +1
Disable Device +1
Heal (New Skill) +1
Perception +1
Sleight of Hand +1
Stealth +1
Survival +1
"Ah Good morning all, de day is wonderful. Sleep and a good morning meal has given me a new feeling of vigor. Grab your goods and lets get on wit it."
The group continues on your current trajectory. The forest envelops you as you progress deeper through the woods. What you presume to be midday, comes and goes. You are not completely sure as the canopy of the forest obscures most of the sky and sun above. All that leaks through is the occasional sun ray and puffy cloud.
In the early afternoon, you see what appears to be a clearing in the forest. There is a lake, in the clearing ahead. The lake extends as far as the eye can see in the NE direction. You are at the edge or "tip" of the lake. There is a bank so you can skirt the edge of the lake if you wished to.
Even takes a good long look at the lake.
"Well, we found water!
He leans down and pulls up a handful of water.
"Lets see, fresh or salt water?
He give the water a good look before giving it a cautious sniff and possible taste.
"Water is ... So, left, right, or do we want to try across?
"We should skirt the edge, direction doesn't seem to matter, perhaps we can fish."
Even, checks the clear water. There is no smell, and it is indeed fresh water. It is clear and crisp, and is a welcome sight to all.
Xipe, suggests going around the edge of the lake, to be standing opposite. You start the trek, and after a few hours you stand opposite of where you once were. The sun is lower on the horizon, and you wonder if you should make camp.
"For a moment, I was hopeful we had reached the edge of the island... but it twas not to be. Anyone see a decent campsite recently?